A crossover is not nescarrily needed if one or both of the network
interfaces supports Auto MDIX.
and in this case the fact that both computers are showing limited
connection mode would indicate that a physical connection
has been made.
The first thing to do is troubleshoot by trying to ping each PC
from the other one.
To do this you need to find out the IP address of each, as they
are in limited connection mode they will have an address that
starts 169.254.x.x
if you open a command prompt and type ipconfig on each
computer you should see the address assigned to each.
then type ping 169.254.x.x (where x.x are the numbers
you got from ipconfig of the other computer)
If the computers are talking to each other this should
come back as successful.
However, with Norton firewall on each it is likely that is
where your problem lies... but start with the ping tests
and go from there.
"Richard Hay" <nospam@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eA3i2vxEIHA.4752@xxxxxx
> Ben,
>
> If that cable is running directly between both computers with no router or
> hub in between then you must use what is called a cross-over cable -
> otherwise they will not talk to each other. Also make sure you have the
> same workgroup name on each.
>
> HTH.
>
>
> --
> Richard Hay
> Windows Live Butterfly
> Windows Beta Tester
> http://WindowsObserver.com
>
> "Ben Ramsay" <benramsay97@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:0FB818C3-D3D8-40D6-86AF-0683A875C559@xxxxxx
>> Compaq Laptop <-> NEC Desktop
>> Firewall is Norton 360 on both
>> Vista Home Basic on both
>>
>> I have tried sevral options however i am having trouble accessing the
>> laptop from the desktop and vice versa.
>>
>> The problem is not so much the connecting, that comes up on a limited
>> conection mode, but rather accessing thedata on the system. I have tried
>> to diagnose the connection, no luck. I have a cat 5e (blue) cable
>> connecting them together
>>
>> Any solutions please
>> thanks in advance
>> Ben RAmsay
>> >